Drawer for storage of keys



H. ANTHONY ETAL DRAWER FORI STORAGE 0E KEYS May 12, 1959 Filed Jan. 24, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 V a T .Ma u e MNM m www A n. M l. D'H'H' l ESRWM n HC.J..&J. l 'El W, /Wf M E V N May 12, 1959 H. E. ANTHONY l-:TAL 2,886,396

DRAWER FOR STORAGE OF KEYS Filed Jan. 24, 1958 y3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A N THON Y BURN/IA M DE ME N May 12, 1959 H. E. ANTHONY ETAL DRAWER Foa STORAGE oF KEYSv 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 DRAWER FOR STRAGE '0F KEYS Harry E. Anthony, Lakewood, Charles S. Burnham, 'Cleveland Heights, and Jack R. De Ment and George W. Hahn, Cleveland, Ohio, and John M. Hepler, Sir., Florharn Park, NJ., assignors to American Telephone and Telegraph Company, a corporation of New York Application January 24, 1958, Serial No. 711,064 8 Claims. (Cl. S12-308) This invention relates to a drawer for the storage of keys and lmore particularly to a drawer so constructed and arranged that keys for telephone coin boxes, safe deposit boxes, vending machines or the like may be conveniently stored and readily removed in a denite order.

It is the object of this invention to construct a drawer embodying means suitable for performing the purposes mentioned above.

This object is attained by the preferred embodiment disclosed in this invention which contemplates a drawer structure having a plurality of longitudinal rods extending the full length thereof and supported by portions of the drawer structure. One of said rods has pivotally mounted thereon a plurality of key envelopes or pockets for the reception of keys', another of said rods passes through apertures provided in the extending top portions of the keys for securing them in their envelopes, whereby the removal of said keys can only 'be effected by the removal of the rod.

A pair of rods is used for retaining the key envelopes in definite positions in a tray which is constructed within the drawer.

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the Afollowing detailed description which together with the accompanying drawing, discloses an illustrative embodiment.

ln the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the drawer as seen from the right illustrating a plurality of envelopes containing keys pivotally mounted on a rod which is secured within the center of the tray. This figure also discloses a plurality of removable locking rods for securing the envelopes containing keys in a center, left-hand or right-hand position;

Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are front views of the drawer shown in perspective as seen from above, in which:

Fig. 2 illustrates the drawer, wherein the top rod is shown removed, thus unlocking the envelopes containing keys to permit their selection by pivoting said envelopes to the right, whereat they are shown positioned against the right-hand locking rod;

Fig. 3 illustrates the drawer wherein the unselected envelopes containing keys are shown secured in a center position by the replacement of the top rod. This figure also shows the selected envelopes containing keys posiA tioned against the right-hand side of the tray due to the removal of the right-hand locking rod, thus effectively aligning the right-hand apertures in the envelopes for the subsequent passage therethrough of the right-hand locking rod;

Fig. 4 illustrates the drawer wherein the right-hand locking rod is shown replaced and passed through the apertures in the selected envelopes containing keys thered by securing them in their selected order while the keys are removed in the same sequence by the hasp of the key lock which is shown inserted through the apertures in the keys and then in turn lifted. The selection of a set of keys is thus effectively accomplished while those remaining in the drawer are suitably segregated and held secured by the top locking bar as shown;

Fig. 5 illustrates the drawer wherein the top rod is again removed forrthe selection of another set of keys, thus unlocking the unselected envelopes containing keys from their center position, so they can be freely pivoted to the right and effectively positioned against the right locking rod when the drawer is partially rotated to the right as shown;

Fig. 6 illustrates the drawer restored to its original position whereupon the left-hand locking rod is removed, and another selection of envelopes containing keys is shown positioned against the left side of the tray so that the left-hand apertures in the envelopes are aligned for the subsequent passage of the left-hand locking rod when it is replaced. The previous selection of key envelopes is shown retained by the right-hand locking rod while those unselected are shown bearing against the same; thus both said envelope groups are effectively segregated from those now shown selected and from each other;

Fig. 7 illustrates the drawer wherein the left-hand locking rod is shown replaced and passed through the lock ing apertures of said second selection of envelopes con taining keys for securing them in their selected order while the keys therein are removed in the same sequence by the hasp of the key lock, which is shown inserted through the apertures in the keys, and then in turn lifted; thus the selection of a second set of keys is effectively ac complished while those unselected are suitably segregated and held secured by the top locking rod as shown;

Fig. 8 is a View in perspective of the key envelope showing the recessed pocket for accommodating the key in dotted outline, also the provision of a recess within the face of the envelope for preventing the removal of indica thereon by the friction of adjacent like members during their use within the tray; also disclosed are the apertures provided for locking the envelopes in a definite position within the drawer, and in addition is shown the bottom pivot hole slotted for facilitating the removal or replacement of said envelopes; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a cabinet which may be utilized for storing a plurality of key drawers in a definite order. The cabinet also provides locking means for preventing the removal of said drawers by unauthorized per sonnel.

The embodiment shown and referred to as 1t) in the various figures of the accompanying drawing comprises a drawer structure which is formed with front and rear walls 11 and 12 respectively, between which is fixedly secured the angularly formed tray 13. The tray 13 serves as a false bottom, the purpose of which will be described in detail hereinafter with respect to the key envelopes KE. shown in Fig. 8.

A series of upright partitions 15 (such as the one shown in Fig. 1) are xedly secured to the sides 22 and 23 of the tray 13, and arranged evenly spaced thereon for dividing the said tray into compartments. The partitions 15 and walls 11 and 12 are provided with the apertures A1, A2, A3 and A4, as seen in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 6 for positioning and supporting the rods 17, 18, 19 and 20, respectively.

The rod 20 shown centrally positioned with respect to the drawer 10 extends longitudinally the full length thereof and serves as a support or mounting for a plurality of key envelopes KE pivotally mounted thereon as shown in the various gures and as shown in detail in Fig. 8. The rod 20 is provided with a suitable handle 21 for facilitating the use and operation of the drawers.

The rods 18 and 19 extend longitudinally the full length of the drawer 10 and are supported by the apertures A2 and A3, respectively, and serve to support the `Alin the walls 11 and 12 and partitions 15, for locking the keys K in place and for maintaining their envelopes a'center position within the tray 13, as shown in 1g.

As shown in Fig. 8 the key envelopes KE., are constructed of Va suitableexible material, such as plastic or the like, and are provided with pockets 24 for containing the keys K. Left and right apertures 18m and 19a, respectively, are provided for the reception of the rods 18 and 19-for retaining the key envelopes KE in a definite position within the tray 13, as shown in Figs. 4 and-7. The bottoms of the envelopes KEv are provided with slotted apertures 20a for facilitating their mounting on the rod'20 and their removal therefrom.

A cabinet CA, as shown in Fig. 9, is provided for storing a plurality of-the described key drawers 10 in definite arrangement and has a lockable door to prevent their unauthorized removal.

Utilization of the drawer forfaciltating the removal and f replacement of keys In using. thev drawerl of-this-invention as-shownvin Fig. 1 for the removal of a desired set of keys, it is initially necessary that the key envelopes KE be unlocked. This is accomplished by the removal of the rod 17 as shown in Fig. 2, wherein the envelopes KE containing the desired keys K2, K and K6, have been pivoted to the right-hand side of the tray. 13 and vpositioned against the rod 19, while the remaining key envelopes in the tray are again held in their original position by the replacement of the rod 17, as shown inFig. 3.

Upon the removal of rod 19, as shown in Fig. 3, the key envelopes KE arek displaced and positioned against the angular surface ofthe tray 13, consequently aligning the locking apertures 19a of the envelopes with respectto the apertures A3`in the/walls 11 and` 112, whereby the replacement of rod.19 as shown in Fig. 4, retains the envelopes in their selected order while the'keys K2, K5 and K6 are removed in the same sequence onto the hasp 25 as shown.

In accordance with the above, the selection of one set of keys is accomplished, while their envelopes are held segregated from the othersinthe tray, thereby facilitating the subsequent replacement of the said keys.

Inusingthe drawer of this invention to accomplish a successive removal of another set ofdesired keys the procedure is similar to that described heretofore with the exception that upon the removal of the locking rod 17 the drawer is partially rotated to the right and then returned to its original position. Thus, all the unlocked key envelopes KE are effectively pivoted to the right against the rod.19 asshown inFig. 5.

Upon the return `of the drawery 10 to its original position as shown in Fig.,6, the rod 18 is removed and the envelopes KE, containing the second set of desired keys K3, K4 and K7, are pivotally moved to the left andpositioned against the` left-hand angular surface of the tray 13, whereupon they are retained in their selected order by the replacement ofthe rod 1S as shown in Fig. 7,` in the same manner as heretofore described.

Upon the replacement of rod 18 the keys K3, K4and y'are then removedand positionedbon ay secondhasp 28 in their selected-sequence, whilethe remaining unselected keys K1 and Kil` are subsequently locked in aicenter position vwithin the tray 13 by the replacementl of the rod` 17 thereby segregating them from-those selected. Thus, the selection of the second set of desiredkeys is readilyv accomplished. Accordingly, two different sets of keys may be removed' from saidtrayl whileretainingthecorrespondmg envelopes for said two sets of keys segregated from each other and from the envelopes for unselected keys, and still at the same time retain all of the envelopes in the original sequence'within the tray.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are illustrative of the application of the principles of this invention. Numerous other arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A storage means forkeys andthe like comprising in combination a drawer, a plurality of spaced apal'rods removably positioned therein, extending longitudinally with respect thereto and supported by portions of said drawer, a plurality of envelopes pivotally mounted on one of said rods, keys positioned in said envelopes and having portions thereof 'extending therefrom, certain-of'saiderodsV inengagement with said envelopes to maintain thernin juxtaposition with respect to said first` rod and an additional'rod in engagement with certain of said keys-to lock them in place and maintain them in position.

2. A storage means for keys and the like comprising in combination a drawer, a plurality of spaced apart rods removably positioned therein, extending longitudinally with respect thereto and supported by portions ofsaid drawer, a plurality of envelopes having notched lower portions pivotally mounted on one of said rods, keys positioned in said'envelopes and having portions thereof extending therefrom, certain of said rods in juxtaposition with respect to said first rodiand an additional rodl in engagement with certain of saidv keys to lock them in place and maintain them in position.

3. A storage means for keys and the like comprising in combination a drawer, a plurality of spaced` apart rods removably positioned therein, extending longitudinallywith respect thereto and supported by portions of said drawer, a plurality of apertured envelopes pivotally mounted onone of said rods, keys positioned in said envelopes and having portions thereof extending therefrom, certain of said rods passing through said apertures in said envelopes to maintain them in juxtapositionpwith respect to said lirst rod and an additional'rod in engagement with certain of said keys to lock them in place and maintain them in position.

4. A storage means for keys and the like comprising in combination a drawer, a plurality of spaced apart rods removably positioned therein, etxending longitudinally with respect thereto and supported by portions of said drawer, a plurality of detachable aperturedenvelopes having notched lower portions pivotally mounted on one of said rods, keys positioned in said envelopes and having portions thereof extending therefrom, certain of said rodspassing through the apertures in said envelopes to maintain them injuxtaposition with respect to said'rst rod and an additional rod in engagement with certain of said keys to lock them in place and maintain them in position.

5. A storage means for keys and the like comprising in combination a drawer, a plurality of spaced apart rods removablyl positioned therein, extending longitu5linally'with respect thereto and supported by portions of said drawer, afplurality of envelopes pivotally mounted on one of said rods, keys positioned in said envelopes and having portions thereof extending therefrom, certain of said rods in engagement with said envelopes to maintain them in juxtaposition with respect to said first rod. and an additional rod passing through certain of said keys to lockl them in placeand maintain them in position.

6. A storage means for keys and the like comprisingin combination a drawer, a plurality of spaced apart rods; removably positioned therein, extending longitudin nally withrespect thereto and supported by portions of said drawer-,- a plurality of envelopes ,having notchedlower portions pivotally mounted on one of said rods, keys positioned in said envelopes and having portions thereof ex tending therefrom, certain of said rods in juxtaposition with respect to said first rod and an additional rod passing through certain of said keys to lock them in place and maintain them in position.

7. A storage means for keys and the like comprising in combination a drawer, a plurality of spaced apart rods removably positioned therein, extending longitudinally with respect thereto and supported by portions of said drawer, a plurality of apertured envelopes pivotally mounted on one of said rods, keys positioned in said er1e velopes and having portions thereof extending therefrom, certain of said rods passing through said apertures in said envelopes to maintain them in juxtaposition with 15 respect to said first rod, and an additional rod passing through certain of said keys to lock them in place and maintain them in position.

8. A storage means for keys and the like comprising in combination a drawer, a plurality of spaced apart rods removably positioned therein, extending longitudinally with respect thereto and supported by portions of said drawer, a plurality of apertured envelopes having notched lower portions pivotally mounted on one of said rods, keys positioned in said envelopes and lhav-ing portions thereof extending therefrom, certain of said rods passing through said envelopes to maintain them in juxtaposition with respect to said rst rod and an additional rod passing through certain of said keys to lock them in place and maintain them in position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 473,080 Pierre Apr. 19, 1892 1,097,172 Disbrow May 19, 1914 2,822,081 Mitchell Feb. 4, 1958 

